Eternal Life in the Kingdom^(A)

¹⁷ As Jesus was coming out to the road, a man came running to him and knelt in front of him. He asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁸ Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony. Never cheat. Honor your father and mother.”

²⁰ The man replied, “Teacher, I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was a boy.”

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. He told him, “You’re still missing one thing. Sell everything you have. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!”

²² When the man heard that, he looked unhappy and went away sad, because he owned a lot of property.

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for rich people to enter God’s kingdom!”

²⁴ The disciples were stunned by his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter God’s kingdom! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”

²⁶ This amazed his disciples more than ever. They asked each other, “Who, then, can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “It’s impossible for people ⌞to save themselves⌟, but it’s not impossible for God to save them. Everything is possible for God.”

²⁸ Then Peter spoke up, “We’ve given up everything to follow you.”

²⁹ Jesus said, “I can guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the Good News ³⁰ will certainly receive a hundred times as much here in this life. They will certainly receive homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields, along with persecutions. But in the world to come they will receive eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Eternal Life in the Kingdom^(A)

¹⁸ An official asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁹ Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God. ²⁰ You know the commandments: Never commit adultery. Never murder. Never steal. Never give false testimony. Honor your father and your mother.”

²¹ The official replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was a boy.”

²² When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still need one thing. Sell everything you have. Distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!”

²³ When the official heard this, he became sad, because he was very rich. ²⁴ Jesus watched him and said, “How hard it is for rich people to enter God’s kingdom! ²⁵ Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”

²⁶ Those who heard him asked, “Who, then, can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus said, “The things that are impossible for people to do are possible for God to do.”

²⁸ Then Peter said, “We’ve left everything to follow you.”

²⁹ Jesus said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up his home, wife, brothers, parents, or children because of God’s kingdom ³⁰ will certainly receive many times as much in this life and will receive eternal life in the world to come.”